Happy May 3rd!!! Soka Gakkai Day!!!

Happy Day of Master and Disciple!!


Happy Day to once again renew your faith...set your determinations and together with Daisaku Ikeda and all the members of the Soka Gakkai, work together towards Kosen Rufu (World Peace). 


What is the significance of this day you ask? 


May Third is when Josei Today, second President of the Soka Gakkai took on the mantle of Kosen Rufu by accepting responsibility for this organization. He was already in a weakened state from having been in prison for refusing to give in to the Japanese Government by not supporting the war effort in WWII. He devoted the rest of his life to teaching and lecturing and leading people to happiness one by one. And later, his disciple, Daisaku Ikeda also took the reigns of Worldwide Kosen Rufu on this date. 


It is a significant time for all of us to say "YES! I will do my OWN Human Revolution. I will chant with even more strength and regularity (EVERY morning and evening!!!) I will chant more daimoku. I will redetermine to win in every aspect of my life!!!" 


I started this day with strong prayers of appreciation towards my mentor Daisaku Ikeda, and Josei Toda and Tunesaburo Makiguchi. Without them dedicating their ENTIRE lives to this practice, I would never have encountered this teaching, and I would still be suffering...knowing SOMEHOW there must be a practice I can use to build my own happiness...and continuing to look for it. 


I mean, when you really think about it, the facts just blow you away. Ever since Daisaku Ikeda first encountered Josei Toda, at the age of 19, he has devoted every waking second to ensuring the propagation of this law...so that all of us could have the tools to create our own happiness and build this world into a world that respects life itself. It is truly something to appreciate. 


Thank you Daisaku Ikeda. I will do everything in my power to help people find out about this great practice, and to teach people to practice correctly so that their lives will be OVERFLOWING with happiness...like mine is! Like all the members of my District! The purpose of this blog is to reach the people who sit at their computers every day and think "The secret to happiness in life must be in here somewhere!" And it is! Chant Nam Myoho Renge Kyo! Join the Soka Gakkai and make the best friends you have ever had in your life!!! VOW with all your heart to create the happiest of lives so that you can be an example for other people...and it shall be so!!!!
Write out your vision of your life...write out your dreams in narrative form...and make them come true!!!

Happiness...true...authentic...unshakable Happiness!

Happiness
by Daisaku Ikeda

The purpose of life is to attain happiness.
Happiness is something you have to feel inside.
It is something you have to build for yourself.
It is something that lives within you.
That is why the state of your inner realm, your life,
is so crucial to your being happy.
Happiness is not in some far off place.
Happiness exists within your own life.
It is within a single thought in your mind.
You, yourself are the most precious of all.
You have no need to be envious of anyone
or to long for things far away.
Faith and one's single minded desire
to achieve Kosen Rufu (world peace)
are what makes this self of yours shine its brightest
and develop its highest potential;
they are what fill you with good fortune,
satisfaction and eternal joy.
This is the essence of true happiness,
A palace exists within your own life.
When you open that palace
you can be happy wherever you are.

Thanks for the comments!

I hear you all - not giving up~!!


That's what I'm talking about! 


You will all be victorious!


For those who asked, my email is silversunsinger@gmail.com

The Buddha Land will Blossom all around YOU

It is true...we live in a world where suffering is everywhere...and many people don't know how to solve their own problems...so they lash out at others in anger.


I recently found myself face-to-Face with such a world....and I had a choice to make. Did I just want to say forget it...I really don't want to be responsible for turning poison into medicine right now? Well...I must admit, I was tempted. The people around me were so nasty to each other...I thought "I'll never be able to succeed here...before I know it there will be arrows in my back too."


And I was tempted to say "No thanks."


But I knew I was in the situation because of the prayers I had chanted...and I KNEW I could turn it around...because I AM a BUDDHA....and when I determine to change inside my own life....my environment HAS to change to reflect my own inner human revolution. There is no doubt. It HAS to happen. We seem to be separate from our environment, but in fact we are as interconnected as can be. 


So what did I do? I greatly upped my level of daimoku...and reconnected with my real true desires in life. These desires weren't necessarily connected to the situation. As a matter of fact I focused my prayer on MY OWN HUMAN REVOLUTION. I chanted to change myself...to elevate my life condition so that my environment would change....I also chanted with passion for some other goals I have...and I mean with PASSION.  When you chant with Passion you move the world...I promise. 


This is not a passive practice! It takes guts, determination, fortitude, and a strong body....sometimes my back and lungs hurt... but that's what we have massage for! I regularly have a massage and I work out physically at least 4 days a week. And I never give up.


I am starting to see the situation change already...I have a new pep in my step...I am letting my light outshine the darkness. It is just like Nichiren Daishonin says: "If I end up in hell I will transform it to the land of tranquil light" (not an exact quote) but it is true! 


You are soooo powerful!!! Never give up!!!

Turn your Karma into MISSION!!!! True Happiness every moment!

I had to show this picture one more time....this is a photo of my sons getting to know their grandfather for the first time EVER. I chanted for a long time to have this wonderful man, Eli, be found...and to become part of the family again after almost 50 years. And here he is! Actual Proof!! Daimoku Works!!!




What does it mean to turn 
Karma into mission?


Take Your Deepest Desires and Accomplish Them!


Let me give you an example.


Say you have something you are trying to change. One day you think "YES ~ I CAN CHANGE THIS!!!", then the next day you are discouraged and feel hopeless again. If you can recognize the hopelessness for what it is ~ a negative function in your life seeking to hold you back, then you can elevate your understanding of every single challenge that you face.


As some of you know, my husband of many years and I are in the process of splitting up. We have 
raised two great children together and it's time for us to move on. I don't see it as a failure...but really as a victory since we are both headed towards more compatible relationships. I chant for his happiness and deeply desire it for him. I know we will always be friends....


AND...Right now...my deepest wish (among others) is to love and be loved. I want to feel REALLY cherished. I want to have the kind of love I sometimes see in other couples. When I was on my cruise I met two couples who inspired me right down to my toes. I could feel their love for each other...I could see the admiration in their eyes, and most of all, I could see the real pleasure they got in making each other feel good! THAT'S what I want! Nothing less!


And whenever I start to get that feeling of hopelessness, I turn it around in a few seconds by realizing...THIS IS MY MISSION. I VOW in front of the Gohonzon that I will have this kind of love, and not just for myself. I MUST have this kind of love because I need to inspire my district, my blog readers...I NEED TO MOVE THE UNIVERSE with my prayer. EVERYONE DESERVES THIS!!!
And everyone CAN HAVE IT. I'm in the process of proving it.


Then ~ how can I be unhappy? I know victory is certain. I have proven the power of this Gohonzon 
(in other words - the power of my own life ~ over and over....) I can do it again!!! I will do it again.
I chant Nam Myoho Renge Kyo! I have so many victories to shout from the rooftops! This will be one more of them....


And remember  - if it's easy ~ then it isn't the kind of karma I'm talking about! Everyone has things that are easy...things you can master quickly...and everyone has things that are "stuck"! THAT's the kind of karma I'm talking about.
And you, yes YOU have the power within you through chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo...studying the writings of Nichiren Daishonin and Daisaku Ikeda, going to SGI meetings, and telling people about this practice....if you do those things....YOU WILL WIN!!!! NO DOUBT!!!

Eli and Aaron and Ben!

Here we are at Millenium Park in Chicago yesterday. Now Eli, who lives in Australia, with his wonderful daughter Debbie,  is a part of his Grandson's lives. We've sat around telling stories and enjoying each other all weekend. Eli is 80 years old. 
This is truly an example of actual proof. 

Happy Easter

Another beautiful thing about being a Buddhist is you can celebrate any holiday you want to! 


Some years we have a Passover Seder...some years we celebrate Easter...and some years we do both. 


I was raised celebrating Easter...culturally. We got our Easter dresses and had an egg hunt and a family brunch. 


Today, on this holiday celebrating spring, we had a great time! 


My sister and her fiance, and my nephew and his girlfriend joined us along with Eli and we had a blast! 


Eli and I hid eggs filled with money and candy and my sister cooked a great meal at my house. Fun Fun Fun. 


And yesterday we went downtown and showed Eli Chicago and took him to some live jazz...


At every moment I am thinking how grateful I am to have the practice I have...the chanting I do brings me above any of the things that used to annoy me...and puts me constantly in the right place at the right time...like having the email about free live jazz tickets come to me a few days before Eli arrived. NICE. 


We all watched the jazz and laughed together and just had a great time...every moment I am so appreciative...thank you life! Nam Myoho Renge Kyo! I hope you are enjoying this day too!